Nigeria could incur the wrath of the International Olympic Committee (IOC), if the organisers of the Lagos Heritage Bank ‘Skoolympics’ failed to desist from using the name of the Olympics for commercials purposes.
Nigeria Olympic Committee Secretary-General, Tunde Popoola, was said to have received a letter from the IOC warning of the consequences of infringing on the Olympics trademark.
Popoola informed the organisers of the development, but it seems this warning has not been taken seriously.
On Thursday at the Teslim Balogun Stadium, billboards and posters heralding the event scheduled for November 2-4 adorned the Indoor Sports hall and environs.
“Nigeria indeed has been warned to stop the usage of the Olympics name. The NOC Secretary-General has informed the organisers about it, but I’m surprised they are still going ahead with the name ‘Skoolympics’, said a sports official at the National Stadium.
Heritage Bank Managing Director in a speech said the aim of the competition was to unearth sports talents in the country, mentor these talents by ensuring that they reach their potentials in both athleticism and academics.
Former Nigerian sprinter Mary Onyali-Omagemi welcomed the event, stating that it was through school sports she was discovered in the early 80’s. “In Nigeria, 98 million are youths and they don’t have avenue to express themselves. Heritage Bank is stepping up to fill that vacuum,” Onyali-Omagbemi said.
